THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.

SERMON XLIX.

A. Ixi. 1. The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings to the meck.

H

AVING gone through the doctrinal part of this fubject, by offering what was intended on the feveral heads of methodwhich we laid down, we fhall now, as was propofed,

IV. MAKE fome practical improvement; and this in ufes of information,--trial,—and exhortation. We are, in the firft place, to improve this fubject in an ufe of information.

1. Hence you may learn what is the great cause of flighting the gofpel, of that coldrife entertain ment which it gets amongft most of its hearers, that little relifh which there is for the great truths of the gofpel; why fo few do comply with the gracious calls which it affords.

People may at

tribute

ribute this to what caufes they will, but the true cause is the want of this meekness and poverty of fpirit. Instead of this, there are pride and felf-conceit, unfubdued and unmortified. I may branch these out into several particulars, as opposed to this meeknefs. There is,

(1.) No due fenfe of fpiritual wants: Prov. xxvii. 7. "The full foul loatheth the honey-comb." Most men are fick of a Laodicean disease, saying. in their practice as they faid in their hearts, that "they are rich and increased in goods, and stand in need of nothing," Rev. iii. 17. They are not mourning under their want of light, of life, and of holinefs. They reign as kings with what they have, though, as with King Saul, God is departed from them. Hence they do not value that treasure which is hid in the field of the gospel.

(2.) Men have no true fight and fenfe of their own finfulness. They fee not the finfulness of their nature, of their hearts, lips, and lives, but are like Sampfon, without his two eyes: Matth. ix. 12. "They that be whole need not a phyfi cian, but they that are fick." They are pining away in their fins; their fickness has not yet taken them by the heart; their wounds are not lanced; the law has not had its effect upon them, and therefore the gospel is not relished.

(3.) Their eyes are vailed, fo that they fee not their mifery by fin, and as being without Christ: Hof. vii.9. "Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not; yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not ;-and they do not return to the Lord their God, nor feek him for all this." Did they fee the clouds of wrath which are hanging above their heads, the quick approaches which death with its fting is making towards them, their feparation from God, and from

all

all the privileges of the covenant, they could not be at ease. The gofpel-tidings would be to them as life from the dead.

may

(4.) They are ftrangers to their utter inability to help themselves.. They are like Sampson, in another cafe, who knew not that his strength was departed from him We fee how corrupt nature changes itself into various fhapes on thispoint. If you urge men to ply the work of their falvation, Alas! fay they, we can do nothing; they thus make it a covert for their floth. Urge them with the neceffity of reformation and repentance, they fay, It is time enough, they will attend to this afterwards; as if it were in the power of their hand to do this business at any time they thus make it a covert for their delays, and ftill have no relish for the gospel.

(5.) They do not feel their need of Chrift: : Rev. iii. 17. "They need his blood and Spirit,.. but they are not duly fenfible of their need." Their own works are big in their own eyes, and appear to them fufficient in order to obtain God's favour. Their natural and acquired abilities are. alfo with them fufficient in order to their fanctification; they are by no means fhaken out of them--' felves; therefore the offer of the gospel is but an offer of food to the full foul, and fo is loathed.

(6.) They fee not their own unworthiness of a Saviour's help; they come to the market of grace with their money in their hand. They look. on themselves as worthy of what Chrift should do for them, Luke, vii. 4. Though they be perhaps fo far humbled as to fee they must have mercy and help from the Lord, yet they look on their reformation and duties as what cannot but recommend them to Chrift beyond many others.

They

They cannot fee how the Lord can reject those who come fo far a length as they do. Hence the doctrine of free grace is but taftelefs to them.

(7.) They have no anxiety for the fupply of their foul-wants. They want grace and holiness, but they can be eafy without them. Like foolish virgins, they fleep on at eafe, while they have no oil for their lamps: Prov. vi. 10. "Yet a little fleep, a little flumber, a little folding of the hands to fleep." Their defires are keen after the world, but weak, faint, and languishing after spiritual good things. They have no hunger and thirst after them. Hence they value not the gospel, nor the fountain of living waters.

(8.) They are not content with Chrift but on terms of their own making. They are like those who feek to buy a commodity which yet they can be without. If they can get it at their own price, they will take it; if not, they can want it. There are right-eye fins, yet they will by no means part with them. They are not pleafed with the covenant, fome things are in it which they must have out; there are some things out which they must have in, elfe they will not come into it. Hence they care not for the gospel, or that covenant which it reveals.

2. Hence learn, that flight the gofpel-call who will, the meek, the poor in fpirit will gladly receive it. They who are fhaken out of themselves by the law, will be glad to creep under that shelter which is held forth in the gofpel. Thefe fouls will feaft fweetly on what is taftelefs to others, what others tread under feet and defpife. The hungry are glad of that for which the full foul has no appetite; and juft fo it is in this cafe.This fubject informs us,

3. Of the dignity and honour of the work of

the

the ministry. With Paul, we would not be afha med to magnify that office which is converfant about thofe things which are most neceffary for the world, which bring the highest honour to God, and the greatest good to mankind. It is true, it is often a defpifed office in the world; but wif dom is juftified of her children. God had but one Son, and he made him a minister, a preacher of the gofpel. He is the chief fhepherd and bifhop of fouls, and therefore the office of the miniftry will be esteemed by all those who have a true efteem for Chrift.-It informs us,

4. Of that good-will which the Father and the Son jointly bear to finners; fince the Father put: his own Son into this work, and the Son readily engaged in it. Do they not by this fay, "Why will ye die?" It was good-will to men in its utmoft height, that ever fuch tidings were to be carried, and that ever such a messenger was em-ployed. It informs us,

5. How acceptable meeknefs and poverty of fpirit are unto the Lord, who has put a peculiar article in Chrift's commiffion for fuch. As to others, he is to humble and bring them down; as to thefe, he is to refresh and revive them with good news.It informs us,

6. As to the goodness and weight of the good tidings of the golpel, which are brought to us by fuch a hand. Surely the weight of the matter must be great, when such a meflenger was sent to publish it. We are informed,

7. As to the danger of flighting these tidings, though men be employed in carrying them; for they fpeak in the name of the great Meffenger, preach in the name, and by the authority of, the great Preacher. So he that defpifeth them, defpifeth him that sent them :" Heb. ii. 3. "How

fhall